Yesterday afternoon just before 17h00 paramedics from KZN Emergency Medical Services responded to a scene near a place called Bulwer farm on the Tugela river in the ILembe District on the KZN north coast. For a report of two children missing in the river.
The boys were reportedly originally a group of four. Three of them got into difficty in the water, one boy managed to safe himself but the other two are still missing. The two boys then raised the alarm and community members called the emergency services.
KZN EMS paramedics, the fire department and the police responded to the emergency call. When they arrived on scene they confirmed that the boys were indeed missing. They conducted a search of the river bank while members of the SAPS reach and rescue team responded to the incident. When the police SAR team arrived on scene they conducted a search with a sniffer dog and divers in the area of the river where the boys were reported missing.
The search continued until after dark, when it was called off due to poor light and a strong flowing river.
The search has resumed early this morning. A sniffer dog from the police K9 unit is being used to identify a likely area for the divers to start diving and the search operation is continuing.
Robert Mckenzie
KZN EMS media liaison officer